Metal strip coil welding machine



Feb. 12, 1946. A. TEPLITZ METAL STRIP GOIL WELDING MACHINE Filed April24, 1945 a m W my a E Patented Feb. 12, 1946 Alfred Teplitl, Pittsburgh,Pa.,' assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation 01'New Jersey Application April 24, 1945, Serial No. 589,950

3 Claims.

This invention is concerned with the problem of fastening the outerconvolution of a coil of weldable strip metal to the next convolution toprevent uncoiling of the coil during its handling. For instance, asstrip steel leaves a cold rolling mill it is coiled on a collapsingspindle and after all the strip is rolled the spindle is collapsed sothat the strip may be removed. Unless something is done the stripuncoilsduring its subsequent handling and it is common to prevent this bybanding the coil with steel box band strapping or to manually spot weldthe outer convolution to the next convolution adjacent the strip end,both expedients being time consuming and somewhat dangerous.

With the above in mind, the present invention is a machine adapted to beused in conjunction with whatever means is used for positioning the coiland which works to automatically spot weld the outer strip convolutionto the next convolution, the machine having the advantages that it issimple, sturdy, works very quickly and does not involve any danger. Itmay be used with any metal strip coil when the metal strip is capable ofbeing spot welded, although it is particularly designed for use inconjunction with steel strip being coiled on the spindle at the end of acold rolling mill.

A specific example of the invention is schematically illustrated by theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side view; and

Figure 21s a partly sectioned enlargement from Figure 1.

More specifically, this drawing indicates the spindle i and a coil ofsteel strip 2 which this spindle I has built upon itself by rotating.This spindle I may bea spindle at the end of a cold rolling continuoussteel strip mill, but in any event it functions as a means for holding acoil .0! steel strip. A carrier, in the form of a rod 3, isnonrotatively and slidably mounted by a bearing 4 so that it functionsas' a carrier recipthe electrode 6] aligned at right angles to thereciprocation of the carrier or rod 3.

These compression springs Ill work against a mount ll rigidly carried bythe carrier or rod 3 and which is also in the form, of a plate, thisplate constituting the mount ll being rigidly carried transversely bythe rod 3 and at right angles to it. In addition to providing thereaction for the compression springs Hi, this mount II also mounts ashield I! at right angles to the reciprocation of the carrier or rod 3and in front of the projecting ends of the electrodes Ii, this shieldhaving holes i3 for passage of the end portions of the electrodes 6. ismounted by the mount H for reciprocation relative and parallel thereto,by posts it rigidly fixed to the shield and sliding in bores formed instandards l5 rigidly fixed to the mount H, compression springs l6functioning to bias the shield l2 toward the coil 2 and away from themount i|.'

Means is provided for reciprocating the carrier or rod 3, this meanstaking the form of a double acting reciprocating motor 11, which may beexemplified by either a hydraulic motor or electric thruster motor. Thismotor I! works the rod 8 by connecting therewith through relativelyreciprocating parts working against a bias during forward motion ofthe-carrier, by which is meant movement toward the coil 2.- These partsare provided by a plunger I! on the end of the working shaft I! of themotor l1, and which plunger l8 'works in a bore 20' formed in the rearend of the rod or carrier 3, the de-.

scribed bias being effected by a compression spring 2i positionedbetween the end of the bore 20 and the end of the plunger IS.

The electrodes 8 are-provided with an electric powering, circuit in theform of high voltage electrically powered lines 22, a weldingtransformer by A. C. current. The lines 21 are controlled by a limitswitch 25 of the type having an operating lever 28, the latter beingthrown so it works the rod' 3 through a clevis I having its pivot 8working in a longitudinal slot I in the end of the rod 3. Compressionsprings i0 provide a means for biasing the mount 5 with the projectingends of switch 25 to circuit establishing positions, by a cam 21 flxedtothe shaft II, the arrangement being such that until there is anappreciable amount of reciprocation'between the relatively reciprocatingparts provided by the plunger it working in the bore 20 o! the rod orcarrier 3 against the bias of the spring a l the switch does not close,and so that relative reciprocation of This shield i2 these partsresultsin throwing oi the lever 28, by the cam 21, so it works theswitch ll automatically and establishes the spot welding current throughthe circuit formed by the lines 22, the transformer 23 and the lines II.

In operation, as the last oi the strip ieeds onto the rotating spindle Iin the final building oi the coil 2, the end oi the strip tends tothrash around before rotation oi the spindle I an be stopped. Duringthis time the rod or carrier 3 is in its retracted position, and theshield I2 is pushed well forward of the ends oi thewelding electrodes 8by the action of the compression springs It so that the weldingelectrodes 8 are adequately protected against damage by the thrashingend oi the strip. This protection also is of value ii the strip breaksduring rolling. When the spindle l is stopped the motor I1 is worked tomove the carrier 3 toward the coil 2, this first bringing the shield I2into contact with the outer convolution of the coil so it no longermovesand, as the motion continues, causing relative reciprocation oi theplunger i8 and the rod 3, with consequent establishment oi 'the weldingcircuit ior reasons already explained, and, against the bias oi thesprings I II and I8, continuing to move the mounts 5 and H forwardlytoward the coil 2 so that the spot welding electrodes 8 are pressedfirmly against the outer coil convolution, the mount 5 rocking asrequired against the bias oi the springs 10 while the clevis pin i ridesback in the slot 8 in the end oi the rod 3, this eiiecting leveling ofthe electrodes 8 so that they both firmly contact the outer stripconvolution and eiiect positive spot welding of this convolution to thenext convolution inside. stopped at a position causing the spot weldingto occur relatively close to the end oi the strip. Aiter the spotwelding operation the motor I1 is again operated to move the carrier orrod 3 away from the coil 2, the switch 25 being then automaticallyworked to break the welding current and the springs returning all theparts they bias to their original positions.

I claim:

1. A machine including the combination oi The spindle l is preierablysaid coil, means ior biasing said mount with the projecting ends oi saidelectrodes aligned at right angles to the reciprocation oi said carrier,and means ior reciprocating said carrier.

2. A machine including the combination oi means ior holding a coil oimetal strip, a carrier reciprocating radially oi a coil held by saidmeans, a mount mounting spot welding electrodes spaced circumierentiallyoi said coil and which is pivoted transversely to said carrierintermediate said electrodes with the latter projecting toward saidcoil. means ior biasing said mount with the projecting ends oi saidelectrodes aligned at right angles to the reciprocation oi said carrier,9. mount rigidly carried by said carrier and mounting a shield at aright angle to the reciprocation oi said carrier and in iront oi theprojecting ends of said electrodes with holes ior passage oi the latter,this rigidly carried mount mounting said shield iorreciprocationparallel the reciprocation oi said carrier and relative thereto and saidshield being biased toward said coil, and means ior reciprocating saidcarrier.

3. A machine including the combination oi means ior holding a coil oimetal strip, a carrier reciprocating radially oi a coil held by saidmeans, a mount mounting spot welding electrodes spaced circumierentiallyoi said coil and which is pivoted transversely to said carrierintermediate said electrodes with the latter projecting toward saidcoil, means ior biasing said mount with the projecting ends oi saidelectrodes aligned at right angles to the reciprocation oi said carrier,a mount rigidly carried by said carrier and mounting a shield at a rightangle to the reciprocation oi said carrier and in iront oi theprojecting ends oi said electrodes with holes ior passage oi the latter,this rigidly carried mount mounting said shield for reciprocationparallel the reciprocation oi said carrier and relative thereto and saidshield being biased toward said coil, means ior reciprocatingsaidcarrler including a connection with the latter through relativelyreciprocating parts working against a bias during ior- 4 ward motion oisaid carrier, an electric powering means for holding a coil of metalstrip, a carrier reciprocating radially oi a coil held by said means, amount mounting spot welding electrodes spaced circumierentially of saidcoil and whichis pivoted transversely to said carrier intermediate saidelectrodes with the latter projecting toward circuit ior said electrodesand a switch ior controlling said circuit and worked to circuitestablishing position by said reciprocating means automatically uponrelative reciprocation oi said AIJi'RED TEPLI'IZ.

